British petroleum company Shell has taken a decision to suspend all its shipments through the Red Sea indefinitely.
According to the American Wall Street Journal, Shell’s decision came after the US and British strikes on Yemen raised fears of further escalation.
In solidarity with the Gaza Strip, which has been subjected to a devastating Israeli war with American support since October 7, 2023, Yemenis are targeting, cargo ships in the Red Sea that are owned or operated by Israeli companies or that transport goods to and from “Israel”.
On Friday, the White House announced, in a joint statement from 10 countries, that “the American and British armed forces carried out joint attacks against targets of the Yemeni army, in response to Yemen’s attacks against commercial ships in the Red Sea.”
The sources added that the Shell decision to suspend shipments also came in anticipation of the exposure of ship crews to danger and to avoid an oil spill in the region.
About 12 percent of the world’s total seaborne oil trade passes through the Red Sea.
Last month, BP said it would halt all shipments through the main shipping lane, and Qatar Energy will do the same this week.
